Radiator and air cooler mister

ABSTRACT

The mister, when installed on a vehicle which is driven by a liquid cooled engine, will provide a mist or flow of water in front of a radiator or air cooler allowing for additional cooling. The mister utilizes a water holding tank, an electric pump, on and off switch, water hose, one way flow valve and special spray nozzle. If the vehicle&#39;s temperature rises to an unsafe level the operator can then engage the switch supplying a flow of water to the front side of the radiator or air cooler. The speed of the vehicle or the vehicle&#39;s cooling fan will suck the water through the radiator or air cooler which will cool the vehicles engine. Some vehicles employ the use of a Turbo or Super Charger which are used to increase the vehicle&#39;s engine performance. Most applications use a similar device as a radiator, an air cooler. The air cooler cools the air before it is circulated into the engine. As the air is being compressed into the engine heat is generated. A mist of water sprayed on the air cooler, (same principal as the radiator) will allow the incoming air to be at a lower temperature. This lower air temperature will help to keep the vehicle&#39;s engine cooling liquid at a safe temperature level when the vehicle is being operated under extreme conditions.

BACK GROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to automotive or industrial engine cooling systems and an alterative source for additional cooling. Most Automotive vehicles and engine driven industrial machinery rely on liquid cooling systems for heat transfer. The type of system used is typically known as a radiator. Radiators allow air to flow through a series of cooling fins allowing heat to dissipate from the inner water passages of the core of the radiator. When a vehicle is used for extreme purposes, the vehicles engine temperature can increase to an unsafe level causing the engine to overheat. This condition can cause major engine damage.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Engine cooling systems use a liquid such as water or coolant which is then circulated by a water pump through the engine's water jackets. The liquid helps to dissipates heat out of the engine's metal. Once the liquid has circulated through the water jackets it then enters into a radiator. The radiator is the cooling unit for the liquid. It allows the liquid to escape from the hot metals inside the engine's water jackets and pass through internal passages inside the radiator. The flow of the liquid is regulated allowing time inside the radiator to cool the liquid's temperature. The radiator allows air to flow through a series of cooling fins which attach and surround internal tubes. The internal tubes allow the liquid to circulate through the radiator and back to the engine. The air flowing past the cooling fins allow for heat transfer from the internal tubes into the passing air flow. This in turn allows for a safe and stable engine temperature.

When a vehicle's engine is put under a heavy load such as a truck pulling a trailer over a long and steep grade, the engine temperature can climb to an unsafe condition. This is caused by increased combustion temperatures inside the engine's cylinders. The engine's water jackets surround the cylinders and help to stabilize the cylinder's temperature. As these temperatures increase to an unsafe level it is at this point that the cooling liquid loses its ability to stabilize the engine temperature.

When a continuous mist of water is sprayed in front of the radiator it increases the radiator's cooling affect. This is achieved when the cooler temperature of the water and when mixed with the air passing through the cooling fins decreases the temperature of the internal tubes of the radiator. This decreases the temperature of the circulating liquid before re-entering the engine's waterjackets and allows the engine to operate at a lower temperature range. Continuous use of the mist of water sprayed in front of the radiator will stabilize the temperature and keep the engine operating at a safe temperature range.

This same principal applies to incoming air to a turbo or super charger's air cooler. The air cooler is generally located in the vehicles engine compartment. As increased performance demands are placed on the engine, heat is generated from the vehicle's engine. This causes the air temperature around the air cooler to increase. This additional increase in heat passes through the vehicles intake system into the engine. The increased air temperature transfers to the engines cylinders. As the temperature in the engine's cylinders increases it in turns heats the cooling liquid used to cool the engine's water jackets. If the temperature of the cylinder's increase too high it can cause engine damage. When the air cooler is misted with water it decreases the air temperature flowing through the intake system allowing the vehicle to operate at a safe temperature level when increase power demands are made on the vehicles engine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mist of water flowing onto the front of the radiator or air cooler offers additional cooling when a vehicle's temperature starts to reach an unsafe level. The mister provides a mist of water from a spray jet mounted in front of the radiator or cooler, supplied through a connecting hose, which connects to the water pump and is attached to the water tank. The electric water pump utilizes a remote on and off switch that can be mounted inside the driver's compartment so the operator can engage the switch when additional cooling is needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the liquid holding tank with related necessary components.

FIG. 2 is the assembly, holding tank, pump, switch, fuse, one way valve, hose, spray jet and radiator.

FIG. 3 is the liquid pump, switch assembly, fuse, hose or piping, one way flow valve and spray jet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The mister consists of the following components, a water holding tank, electric water pump, rubber hose or metal piping, spray jet, one way flow valve, electric wire, fuse and an on and off switch.

The water holding tank, 10 as represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 the can be made of any type of material and can be of any size. The material being used would need the capability to contain the liquid inside the tank. Materials such as plastic, wood, steel and aluminum would be suitable and the most common materials used in the construction of a water tank. Mounting points 14 as represented in FIG. 1, can be incorporated in the construction of the tank or a series of external mounts could be designed for different applications. Mounts can be made out of plastic, wood, steel, aluminum, wire or any material capable of holding the tank to its mounting area on the vehicle. The water holding tank 10 would have a series of openings, 12 and 15 in FIGS. 1 and 2, one opening for 12 for filling a liquid into the tank and 15 an exiting point to enter either the water pump or spray jet. The holding tank would not be limited to two openings; other applications may require additional outlets.

The electric pump, FIGS. 2 and 3, 20 can be made out of any material and can function as either a pusher type pump or a puller type pump. The pump's power supplied would not be limited to either AC or DC voltage. A vacuum pump could also be used to deliver the liquid to the spray jet. The pump location would not be limited and could be located anywhere within the system. It can be an internal part of the holding tank or mounted externally anywhere within the system from the holding tank to the spray jet.

The spray jet, FIGS. 2 and 3, 17 can be made out of any type of material such as plastic, steel, aluminum wood or rubber. The spray jet could incorporate a mounting surface or bracket or the mounting bracket could be separate due to application. The spray jet would not be limited to the type of mounting system in order to deliver the fluid to the radiator or air cooler. The spray jet would not be limited to one outlet. It could be a series of individual outlets or could be a series of outlets in a single tube or piping surrounding the radiator or air cooler, FIGS. 2, 25. The spray jet nozzles could be adjustable to increase the width of the spray or for increasing the distance needed to cover the area of the radiator or air cooler size. The spray jet could also be incorporated into a spinning fan blade or fan blades, (such as an electric fan) for the introduction of equal distribution of the fluid to the radiator or air cooler. The spray jet could also have a series of internal passage ways and could be used in conjunction with compressed air. The compressed air when mixed with the liquid creates an additional cooling effect to the fluid used for spraying the radiator or air cooler. The introduction of compressed air to the fluid would also increase the area of distribution of fluid to the radiator.

A one way flow valve, FIGS. 2 and 3, 18 needs to be incorporated into the system to eliminate the possibility of a siphoning effect. The flow valve would allow the fluid to flow in one direction under pressure from the fluid pump. If the spray jet is mounted at a lower point then the holding tank the system could allow the fluid to siphon from the holding tank while not in use. This could cause the system to be nonfunctional when needed. The flow valve could be incorporated at the exiting point of the tank or at the entrance to the spray jet or anywhere in between the two points of the delivery hose or piping. It could also be incorporated as part of the delivery hose or piping. FIGS. 2 and 3, 16.

Delivery hose or piping, FIGS. 2 and 3, 16 is needed to deliver the liquid from the holding tank to the spray jet. The delivery hose or piping would not be limited to the type of material used. It can be of any length or diameter. A junctions point or a series of junction points could be incorporated into the delivery hose or pipe to accommodate additional spray jet outlets.

A switch device, FIGS. 2 and 3, 24 is needed in the system to turn the pump on when additional cooling is needed and off once the vehicle's temperature has been lowered. The switch would not be limited to the type of switch used. It could be a pull button type or a toggle switch. The switch could also be electronically control from a heat sensor placed at the radiator or on the engine. The heat sensor would not be limited to only one temperature setting. The sensor could have variable adjustment temperature settings for different heat ranges. The system could be operated also by the vehicles on board computer and operate from several sensors placed at different locations on the engine or radiator.

Typical electrical wire, FIGS. 2 and 3, 23 would be needed to relay power to the switch which relays power to the pump. The wire can be of any type and would not be limited by the size or length. The system would incorporate a fuse, FIGS. 2 and 3, 28 in case an electrical overload should occur. The fuse is a safety precaution which is design to fail when overloaded. This prevents electrical power from damaging the pump or the switch or possible other electrical components connected to the vehicle. 

1. A radiator or air cooler misting unit comprising: a) Water holding tank use for the purpose of storing a liquid which is used for spraying a mist of liquid onto the radiator or air cooler. b) A pump use for the purpose of moving the liquid from the water holding tank to the spray jet. c) A spray jet or series of spray jets for the purpose of spraying or misting the radiator or air cooler. d) A one way flow valve to stop the liquid in the holding tank from siphoning out. e) Liquid delivery hose or piping that delivers the liquid from the holding tank to the spray jet. f) A on and off switch which supplies the pump with power to move the liquid from the holding tank to the spray jet. g) Electrical wire to supply the power from the switch to the pump and a linkable fuse for the purpose of protecting the electrical system incase of an overload condition. 